Local Age UK brand partners collaborate to help older people locally

Published on 10 April 2019 04:56 PM

From mid-April, Age UK West Sussex and Age UK Brighton & Hove will be collaborating in a partnership which will see them share resources and expertise. The partnership will allow the charities to help more older people in future and ensure that more of each pound donated can be spent directly on services to support over 50s across West Sussex, Brighton & Hove.

Age UK West Sussex will be sharing its expertise and taking on some of the management at Age UK Brighton & Hove including back office services like Finance, IT and HR. A full merger may follow, but this agreement allows both charities to quickly benefit, sharing their vision, knowledge and assets to provide the best possible services for older people in the area.

Simon Dowe, Interim Chief Executive at Age UK Brighton & Hove said “A local collaboration like this makes our charity more efficient, allowing us to spend more on services for older people. We’re there for everyone, from the most vulnerable people facing poverty and ill health, to those who are looking for social groups to make the most of later life. Working in partnership with Age UK West Sussex, pooling resources and utilising our local knowledge will allow us to keep our doors open for many years to come.”

Helen Rice, Chief Executive at Age UK West Sussex said “Older people are at the heart of everything we do. Creating a partnership with Age UK Brighton & Hove will strengthen both organisations, providing new opportunities, maximising our assets and delivering a joint vision for the future. We want to create exciting services and activities that will meet the needs of older people now and in the future.”

Age UK Brighton & Hove and Age UK West Sussex are brand partners of Age UK national, but exist as separate entities, each with their own Board of Trustees and separate finances. Age UK West Sussex are presently filling back office gaps that have arisen through vacancies. These include Financial Management, using the contracts and support in place for IT, health and safety, quality assurance and wider HR support. Unfortunately, Age UK Brighton & Hove has seen a reduction of contract income which is affecting staff numbers. However, it is hoped that by working together there will be a chance to rebuild services locally in the future.

Last year alone, Age UK Brighton & Hove helped over 5,000 older people in the city, tackling a range of issues like poverty, social care and loneliness. The charity provides information, advice and services for those who need help or support. Age UK West Sussex has common services and activities meeting the needs of 10,000 older people with very similar challenges, so the opportunity to do more together is at the core of the collaboration.